Faith, family, football.
Those three F’s have been a pillar in Austin Alexander’s life.
Alexander uses the phrase “all glory to God” often, constantly having a devotion in his faith for all his successes on and off the athletic field. When not on the football field, he’s often helping out with his church or school.
His family, sitting by his side during Friday’s commitment on where he would play college football, made him emotional as he spoke to a big crowd in the Cooper High School auditorium. He thanked them for putting food on the table, taking him to all his games, camps and workouts. But when he got to thanking his sister Maleah, his emotions took over him.
“She pushes me every single day to be my best,” Austin Alexander said. “Not only physically, but also mentally, spiritually. She continues to inspire me everyday with what I do.”
So when Alexander picked up the University of North Carolina hat to pick his college, his sister played a big part in that decision, Maleah heading to Liberty University to play college basketball next year.
“That was a huge factor,” Alexander said. “Just considering, the hours and how long of a drive. We’re just so close, we’re just so similar. We push each other so much to achieve excellence, and I just knew I need to be around or just for my own personal growth.”
The two will just be a hop, skip and a jump away from each other, a two-hour drive to one another’s campus.
Then there’s football. Alexander’s production at the high school level speaks for itself. His 19 sacks were second in the state in the 2023 season, the most in Class 5A, where the Jaguars have some unfinished business to tend to, bringing back the majority of the roster for the Class 5A runner-up.
“That played a factor why we’re here so early in the spring. I wanted to find my place, settle it and get back working with one goal in mind,” Alexander said. “It’s state championship this year and that’s what we’re going to do.”
Now that the decision is out of the way for Alexander, he can get back to perfecting his craft, working on tormenting the opposing quarterback all game while also getting it done on the offensive end, Alexander’s sure hands equating into a 1,000-yard receiving season in 2023.
Alexander is the third highest rated recruit in the state of Kentucky for the 2025 class, according to On3’s recruiting rankings. He’s rated as a four-star, the highest the high school has ever had.
His recruitment took off in the summer between his sophomore and junior year, racking up an offer on what seemed to be a daily basis. He was offered by 29 schools in total leading up to Friday. North Carolina had a change in defensive philosophy with the hiring of new coordinator Geoff Collins. Collins helped play a big part in Alexander’s recruitment to Chapel Hill, even calling Alexander’s father, Durran directly after his commitment announcement. Maybe Alexander can draw some Julius Peppers comparisons, the former NFL player also excelling on the basketball court, Alexander playing a role for the Jaguars last two 9th Region runner-up finishes on the hardwood.
But the focus will strictly be on football moving forward, Alexander planning on enrolling early at UNC after his senior football season and first semester of his senior year.
“I’m looking so forward to it. I’m going to look good in their colors and just do what I do and that’s get sacks and make plays,” Alexander said. “The coaching staff and the energy is just so good. It’s such a good fit and I’m looking forward to making it out there.”
Alexander won the TriStatefootball.com Kentucky Defensive Player of the Year award as a sophomore, collecting 85 tackles, 11 sacks and intercepting a pass for a touchdown.
It was quite the encore his junior season when he tallied 81 tackles, recorded 19 sacks while recovering two fumbles and picking off a pass as the Jaguars made it to the 5A state championship game.
Those stats don’t even list what he was able to do on the offensive end, catching 67 passes for 1,138 yards and 19 touchdowns in his junior campaign.
“Austin has had major aspirations to play at the next level and everything he’s done here has set him up for that,” Cooper Athletic Director and head football coach Randy Borchers said. “His family has done a tremendous job. He’s very humble and brings a ton of leadership. Very vocal leader and he’s always positive and brings it 100 miles per hour every play. That’s what makes him a next level player.”
Not to mention Alexander’s excellence in the classroom, currently with a 4.4 GPA and involved in quite a few extracurricular activities at the high school and in the community.
Alexander has quite the mentor in his family, Boone County/Alabama/NFL star Shaun Alexander is Austin’s uncle. He helped provide some advice from afar during his recruitment, Shaun Alexander currently residing in Virginia.
“My biggest thing for Austin was, man, enjoy all of this,” Shaun Alexander said to LINK nky back in June. “You’ll blink your eyes, and you’ll be a dad with kids and married. If you don’t make fond memories, you miss the other blessings.”
Alexander wants to major in business with some finance involved since he has a love for math.
